Message from Dean Harjeet Bhabra

391A2597.jpg

Hello business and community leaders, students and alumni,

Welcome to the Sobey School Community Revitalization & Prosperity Network.

Sobey School of Business has long been committed to making a positive impact on local and global business practice and the economy of our region. In our recently-release strategic plan, Elevating Impact, one of the three key pillars is “Connect”, which says “Engage with the broader community to enrich learning and discovery, and address issues of local and global significance.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a drastic effect on the economy around the globe. Governments protected their citizens by curtailing public life, including commerce. Lives have been saved and peoples’ health protected by these means. As we begin the hard work of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sobey School is poised to play a leading role in helping Nova Scotia businesses and communities cope. 

The Sobey School of Business Community Revitalization & Prosperity Network has been established as a recovery hub for communities and businesses, in particular small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) who can learn and apply our academic and industry experts’ perspectives on pressing issues related to the recovery and revitalization of their businesses. Through activities of this network, we hope to foster a resilient community of innovation and support for Nova Scotia’s entrepreneurs, businesses and communities. 

Among the activities we are undertaking is the engagement of a multi-disciplinary team of Saint Mary’s University experts whose research and experience combine to provide the urgently needed perspective, creative approaches and commitment to community action that is needed to help Atlantic Canada businesses and governments navigate the economic recovery.

This team is already engaging in research, publications, business coaching and virtual events focused on COVID-19 recovery and resilience, and is also available to members of the media who are seeking information, insight and commentary to inform the public.

In partnership with key stakeholders, we are hosting a series of webinars addressing pressing issues that are essential for businesses in the recovery phase of the pandemic. These webinars feature leading faculty from the Sobey School and across the university, drawing on our distinctive strength of interdisciplinary research, along with our alumni and other industry experts.

Other activities of the network will include producing discussion papers to spark engagement among community members and industry associations and advance the recovery discourse; producing blog posts with helpful information; and opinion editorials to engage with media and the broader community. 

We invite you to visit these pages, and reach out with your challenges. Visit our experts’ pages to get a sense of what work is being done, and visit the Upcoming Events tab to start to engage.

 

Harjeet S. Bhabra, PhD

Dean, Sobey School of Business

Executive-In-Residence

Ian Smith headshot.jpg

Ian D. Smith | Chief Executive Officer

Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership

Ian D. Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of Clearwater Seafoods.  Mr. Smith joined Clearwater in May 2010 and has over 33 years of international experience in the food and consumer products industry.  Prior to joining Clearwater, Mr. Smith held senior leadership positions at the Campbell Soup Company within Canada, the United States and China.  Prior to his time at Campbell’s, Mr. Smith held various marketing, sales and international business development positions with Allergan, Colgate-Palmolive and the Gillette Company.

Mr. Smith currently participates as a director on a number of boards and advisory councils focused on international trade and public policy including; The Business Council of Canada and the Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council of the Asia Pacific Foundation.  He is a graduate of McGill University (BA Economics, MBA), a former Captain in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve and currently serves as Honorary Colonel of 36 Canadian Engineer Regiment located in the Province of Nova Scotia.

Alumni-In-Residence

Wendy Luther | President and Chief Executive Officer

Halifax Partnership

Wendy Luther Proud Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. EMBA’08

Wendy Luther is a leader in economic and export development, with vast experience promoting Nova Scotia and its assets globally. Halifax Partnership is Halifax’s public-private economic development

organization. Wendy joined as President & CEO in 2019. In 2023, Halifax

Partnership was honoured with four Excellence in Economic Development

Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)

including Gold for Economic Development Organization of the Year. Prior to joining Halifax Partnership, Wendy was President & CEO of EduNova, a co-operative association of public and private-sector education providers committed to promoting Nova Scotia’s knowledge economy internationally. Under her leadership, EduNova was honoured with the prestigious international PIEoneer Association of the Year Award in 2017. Earlier in her career, Wendy worked in export development with the Atlantic Canada World Trade Centre and Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) where she led trade missions to over twenty countries and has mentored and advised hundreds of Nova Scotian exporters on how to be competitive in international markets. At NSBI, through her role as Nova Scotia’s first Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO), she was appointed by the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank to connect entrepreneurs and institutions to opportunities funded by International Financial Institutions. Wendy has served on and led numerous boards and committees including advisory boards for two private sector companies (Canada and U.S. based). Currently, Wendy serves on the Board of Directors and the Management Resources and Compensation Committee of Canadian-owned LED Roadway Lighting; the Board of Directors and as Vice Chair of the Governance Committee of Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization focused on increasing Canada’s innovation competitiveness; and is Membership Chair on the Executive Committee of the International Women's Forum (IWF) Atlantic Chapter. Born in Vancouver, Wendy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA from Saint Mary’s University. She holds a Certified International Trade Professional designation (CITP) and is an alumna of the Caribbean Canada Emerging Leaders Dialogue and Royal Canadian Navy Canadian Leaders at Sea (CLaS) Program. In November 2023, she attained her ICD.D designation through the Institute of Corporate Directors, Director Education Program and is really geeking out on governance! In March 2023 Wendy was honoured with Atlantic Canada's 25 Most Powerful Women in Business award.